Please stand by

By MITCH MAERSCH

Ozaukee Press staff

Those old enough remember those snowy screens when TV reception went out.

That’s exactly what happened to the high school spring sports season.

The weekend snowstorm and more precipitation this week have canceled and postponed every local contest. Athletic directors already used to making out schedules in pencil could have used an extra supply of erasers.

Teams are experiencing two major impacts due to the weather.

First, practices are being held indoors, making gym space tight between softball, soccer, track and field and tennis.

“Everyone’s got to share some gym time,” Grafton softball coach Ken Hunt said.

Port Washington’s softball team has  more games (three) than outdoor practices (two). Coach Ben Navigato brought a pitching machine in the gym last Saturday.

By the end of this week, Cedar Grove-Belgium’s softball team will have canceled or postponed 10 games already.

The team, coach Scott Soerens said, is getting cabin fever despite coaches cooperating with each other.

“Coaches are good about working out gym space and time,“ he said.

“Everybody just kind of wants to go out and play.”

Grafton soccer coach Don Arnold found a way for his team to bond outside. 

“We’re having a snowman-building competition today. I’m serious,” he said on Tuesday.

The team will then practice inside.

“We’re making the most out of a bad situation in the snow. Kids want to play. Being in the gym always is no fun,” Arnold said.

The other major impact is a jammed schedule once the weather gets better. That can be harder on athletes.

“Depth of a roster is key to surviving that type of schedule, and frankly it forces a coaching staff to develop their bench so early in the season,” Port soccer coach Eric Liebergen said.